In my lifetime, we’ve had 1) the undead, 2) those soul-eating ghosts, 3) the vampire cycle of romance and death, and 4) whatever might be happening now with the body of Finn and the terrified deer, if they’re even connected (they’re probably connected). When Jared’s grandad was a teenager, they had Gods.
— Chapter 6

It’s not a bomb this time, even it it might as well be.
My dad shows up.
— Chapter 15

Warning: If irony and sarcasm are foreign to you or just not your cup of tea, you will more than likely not enjoy this book. But if you like an appreciative chuckle at the expense of popular fantasy tropes (even if you love those as well), then you should definitely have a look at this.
Patrick Ness is a wonderful storyteller who can craft a narrative that will suck you right in. But in this case not to take you on an epic adventure to save the world from an apocalypse and humanity from certain extinction. This also is not the story of the trusty side-kick/best friend/family of the hero. No, this is the story of those far in the background, who usually appear in the end credits as “Boy #2” or “Girl in Hallway” and whose only objective is to finish their final year of high school (and maybe get a prom date, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). Sometimes the most mundane seeming thing can harbour the biggest challenge of all: Finding meaning in your own ordinarily extraordinary life.

Do you have a favourite fantasy trope that you maybe want to see turned on its head? Share ideas and your teasers in the comments!

Clearly a ruse, definitely another plot. And it was headed straight for us.
— Chapter 15

This is not actually the final book in a trilogy but rather the setup for the ultimate finale. And the stakes are ... staggering to say the least. Mare is held captive by her very worst nightmare and used as a propaganda puppet yet the girl still has the capability to wander off on dangerous tangents of misguided trust. And then we get other points of view. I predictably especially enjoyed staying with Cameron inside the resistance forces. I really enjoyed her voice and her if not unbiased then in other ways biased perspective.
I have the very distinct feeling that I won’t like where this is headed, but seeing that there is a whole book yet waiting after this it is to be expected that things have to go downhill before anything can be resolved. I just hope that the dear lightning girl finally comes to her senses regarding whom to trust.

Trilogies are nice and well, but four books offer a completely different opportunity for betrayal. I don’t know if the series was planned as a quadrilogy from the beginning. At the moment it seems that the story arc is well-balanced to carry across four books and I hope this holds true. What are your thoughts on longer series? Share your opinions and teasers in the comments!

“Do you want me to give you a shovel so you can keep on digging me this hole?”
“Please,” she shot back. “I’d rather watch. You’re doing such a nice job of it, after all.”
— Chapter 3

“Do you need a ride?”
The click of a gun cocking. It wasn’t a suggestion. I got in.
— Chapter 6

Holmes and Watson are one of my ultimate pairings, be it platonic or romantic. You can dangle any book with them in front of me and I’ll give it a try. And in case of this series this was a very lucky find. I actually had to leave a cafe after giggling at the highly amusing dialogues one too many times and people were beginning to look at me suspiciously.
As this is the second book in the trilogy I’m quite happy to report that coming back to these characters felt like returning to some good friends. With the added fun of also experiencing some confusion because things have definitely taken a turn since the last visit. As with so many versions this duo, Holmes and Watson have a series of personal issues apart from their actual cases. And I adore Charlotte and Jamie with their special brand of quirks and problems.
This book takes the two of them first to the UK and then on to Berlin and Prague. It’s quite fun to observe characters be tourists in your country. Their case is something else, and of course much more complex than it seems. I’ve not yet solved everything that is going on, but I have some suspicions (one of my favourite aspects of these books, puzzling out the intricacies of these types of plots). And then there is the final book and I fear that there will be a major cliffhanger at the end of this ...

Any kryptonite-like books you have recently discovered that you weren’t able to put down? Share your finds and teasers in the comments!

There are few things in the world scarier than the unknown. I’ve learned that the hard way.
— Chapter 3

And trust is like an invisible tightrope. Only a true friend dares to take a step.
— Chapter 9

Final book in this exceptional series that has gotten better over the course of its publication. Knowledge is power, yet sometimes knowledge and the power it brings can also be extremely dangerous. The stakes have reached an incredible height after the chase out of home and country for Grace. Now she is on the run from the people who apparently are determined to see her silenced – and if it’s the silence of the grave. But luckily Grace has a bunch of friends who are even more determined to see her alive and well – or as well as Grace is ever going to be after what happened in her past.
Ally Carter has created a diverse and well-realised cast of characters, whom I loved getting to know during their adventures. And while the kingdom of Adria is not real it feels like it is. The society and the history are superbly developed and make the semi-fictional world and threats in it appear very real. And while I am sad to see the series end I’m more that happy with its finale. The solution was as elegant as it was plausible and made me appreciate the overall plotting of this series. I will admit that I haven’t read her other books, but that’s something I’m more than willing to rectify.

Isn’t that dress on the cover gorgeous? Not to talk about the handsome guy waiting on the stairs ... not quite as it appears in the novel, but close enough. Do you have a cover scene or outfit in mind you’d like to try on? Share ideas and teasers in the comments.